All-Time Top Ten: The Readers Give Us an Earful

Thanks to all who voted. Ironically, considering the nature of the poll, almost everyone identified the song according to the performer whose version they preferred, rather than the songwriter. But then so did Mojo, who started this whole thing; besides, in the rock era (which accounted for the great majority of the submissions) the performers were usually the songwriters anyway.

In a few cases we inserted the songwriter for the sake of cultural advancement, or changed the occasional lapse (that was Whitney Houston who sang "I'll Always Love You," Carol, not Mariah Carey).

All told the Beatles did very well, as did the Stones, U2, Don McLean, Hank Williams and Willie Nelson, who wrote several of Patsy Cline's biggest hits.

Now on with the show:

John Massoud:

Great article by the way. Of course you do know that this, and who was the best team of all time, is the best way to start an argument, but it's a great and healthy way to spend time, I
say.

1. The Woman I Am  Chaka Khan This is the amazing title track from her 1992 album, with huge production by Marcus Miller, words and music by Brenda Russell, Dyan Cannon and Chaka Khan.2. Let's Stay Together  Al Green
3. Ain't Nobody  Rufus & Chaka Khan
4. I Don't Wanna Fight  Tina Turner
5. No Woman, No Cry  Bob Marley (live at the Lyceum, London  I was
there!)6. Summer Breeze  Isley Brothers
7. Why Can't We Live Together  Timmy Thomas (Lasting Peace mix)8. Joy & Pain  Maze featuring Frankie Beverley (live version) 9. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For  U2 (live gospel version from
the album "Rattle and Hum," recorded live at Madison Square Garden, September 28th, 1987, with New Voices of Freedom)10. Sing Our Own Song  UB 40

1. In My Life  Beatles (actually you could insert just about any later
Beatles song here such as "Yesterday," "Let It Be," etc.)
2. Crazy  Patsy Cline (written by Willie Nelson)
3. Every Breath You Take  Sting/Police
4. Satisfaction  Rolling Stones
5. Be My Baby  Ronnie Spector & Ronettes
6. Stairway to Heaven  Led Zeppelin
7. In the Mood  Glen Miller
8. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry  Hank Williams
9. Born to Run  Springsteen
10. The Times They Are a Changin' Bob Dylan

1. Stardust
2. Over the Waves
3. Rred River Valley
4. Big Bouquet of Roses
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. Volare
7. Dahil Sa'Iyo (Because of You)
8. Love me Tender
9. El Paso
And who can say that "Rock a Bye Baby" isn't the best song in the world?

1. I've Got You Under My Skin  Cole Porter
2. And I Love Her  Lennon/McCartney 3. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?  Van Morrison
4. I Can Love You Like That  All-4-One 5. Crazy  Patsy Cline
6. So Far Away  Carly Simon
7. Just the Way You Are  Billy Joel
8. They Can't Take That Away From Me  Gershwin
(Amy is working on the last two, we hope)